About this topic
Pulmonary hypertension is also called PH. With PH, the blood pressure in the lungs arteries becomes too high. The high blood pressure is caused by narrow, tight, or stiff arteries. ‚
When someone has PH, blood has problems getting to the lungs. The heart may need to work harder to push blood going to the lungs. If the heart works too hard, over time its muscles become weak. When heart muscles are weak, they cannot pump enough blood to the body or to the lungs. This is called heart failure. If it is not treated, the heart will keep getting weaker. ‚
Doctors treat PH with drugs, oxygen, or surgery. If PH is caused by some other illness, the doctor may need to treat this illness first. How well your child does will depend on how much pressure is in the lungs and how well the treatments work. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your childs doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- Give your child all the drugs as directed. Do not give other drugs without asking your doctor. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any side effects that your child may have. Ask what to do if you miss a dose of any of the drugs.
- Make sure your child gets lots of rest. Some children have trouble breathing when lying flat. If so, use extra pillows to raise the head and shoulders.
- Talk to your child's doctor if you plan to travel. You may need to take extra care with your child if going on an airplane. Going to a place with a high altitude may make it hard for your child to breathe.
- Your doctor may give your child oxygen to use at home. Follow your doctor's advice on using it.
- Never change the amount of oxygen flowing without talking to your child's doctor.
- Always have a back-up oxygen supply at home or when you take your child out.
- No candles, matches, cigarettes, or open flame should ever come near the oxygen.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- The doctor may have your child go see a specialist. Your child may need to see a heart doctor called a cardiologist. Your child may also need to have rehab to get back strength.
- Join a support group with your child to help deal with the illness. Your child may be able to meet other kids with the same illness.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help lower blood pressure in the lungs
- Prevent blood clots
- Increase blood flow to the heart
- Get rid of extra fluid
- Increase the amount of oxygen in the blood
- Help control abnormal heartbeats
- Prevent or fight an infection
- Prevent rejection of the new heart
Will physical activity be limited?
- Make sure your child gets lots of rest. Your child should sleep when feeling tired. Have your child avoid doing tiring activities.
- Avoid straining. Do not let your child do tiring activities or lift heavy objects. This will make signs worse.
- Your child may have to limit activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for your child.
- Ask your doctor about when your child may go back to normal activities like school or daycare.
What changes to diet are needed?
Give your child foods that are easy to digest. These can prevent straining when your child has a bowel movement. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about a personal diet plan for your child. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Heart failure
- Blood clots
- Irregular heart beats
- Bleeding of the lungs
- Coughing up blood
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Sudden shortness of breath or a sudden onset of chest pain could be a sign that a blood clot has traveled to your childs lungs. Go to the ER right away.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum.
- Breathing is getting worse: Harder or faster than before or your child feels like they are getting less air
- Your child needs to lean forward when sitting
- Your child uses rib muscles to help with breathing. You see the skin between the ribs going in as your child breathes.
- Headaches more often
- Feeling extra sleepy or confused
- Fingertips or fingernails are blue
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or your child is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my child's breathing.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child is suddenly short of breath or has sudden chest pain.
Where can I learn more?
Canadian Lung Association ‚
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/hypertension-hypertension/index_e.php ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pah/ ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pulmonary-hypertension/Pages/introduction.aspx ‚
Pulmonary Hypertension Association ‚
http://www.phassociation.org/page.aspx?pid=429 ‚
Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK ‚
http://www.phassociation.uk.com/living_with_ph/children_and_ph.php ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚